BALTIMORE, Md. – The Monmouth University men’s soccer team, ranked 14th in the nation, defeated Loyola (Md.), 1-0 to conclude the nonconference portion of its schedule on Saturday afternoon in front of 1,322 at Geppi-Aikens Stadium. The Hawks end the nonleague part of their schedule 8-0-0 for the first time in program history, while the Greyhounds fall to 3-4-1 on the season.

Monmouth’s two local freshmen, Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) and Cody Calafiore (Howell, N.J./Howell), combined for the Hawks tally in the 78th minute. Calafiore sent a cross in from the right side where Clark gathered the ball from 10 yards out and beat Loyola keeper Kyle Wittman into the lower right side for his fourth goal of the season. Clark’s fourth marker ties him for the team lead with Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck), while Calafiore’s assist is the second of his young MU career.

The Hawks were outshot by the Greyhounds, 8-7, while MU had an advantage in corner kicks, 6-3. Monmouth keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made three saves to log his fifth shutout of the season, and the 16th of his career.

The junior keeper came in to the match ranked 19th in the nation in goals against average (0.43), while also ranking 25th in the country in save percentage (87%).

The Hawks open up Northeast Conference play on Friday when they travel to Fairfield, Conn. to take on Sacred Heart for a 4:00 pm match.